SKIPPER Scott Brown is the latest player to be ruled out of Celtic's crunch tie at home to Ajax.
The enforced will be out for up to 12 weeks and Ronny Deila's squad is stretched with Kris Commons injured and fellow midfielders Nir Bitton and Stefan Johansen banned.
Brown's experience and Commons' guile will be especially missed and without those four it's difficult to see Celtic picking up the points they need to keep their hopes alive.
On the evidence of the Scots' displays and defeats against Molde the logical conclusion is to back an Ajax win at 2-1 with Betfred but they too some injury woes.
Celtic have failed to win in their last nine Europa League ties but Ajax are without a victory in five on the road and just one in 11.
However, they’ll make hay like Molde in front of goal unless Ronny Deila changes his tactics. Best bet could be Ajax draw no bet at 21-10 with William Hill and BetVictor.
The punt everyone will look ar though is over 2.5 match goals and both to score will also be popular. All Celtic’s group games have brought up this market and overs pays 5-6 at McBookie and btts is 8-13 at bet365.
Commons' absence though makes me think twice about whether Celtic will score as most of their good stuff in Europe this season has come from the Englishman.
Arkadiusz Milik is Ajax’s top scorer and is 6-1 at Paddy Power to score first while Leigh Griffiths is 9-2 at Coral.
The other game sees qualified Molde entertain Fenerbahce and I don't see the Norwegians losing having won 3-1 in Turkey and beaten Celtic twice.
Fenerbahce are missing some key men and I'm tempted by Molde at 6-4 with Skybet even if they only need a draw to clinch top spot in Group A. Molde not to lose pays 8-11 at boylesports.
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